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| THE CARNIVORA. |
| CHAPTER I. |
| INTRODUCTORY REMARKS—THE CAT FAMILY. |
| The Carnivora—Division into Terrestrial (Fissipedia) and Aquatic (Pinnipedia)—Introductory Remarks on the FISSIPEDIA—Their Relations to Man and to other Animals—Their Distribution over the Surface of the Globe—Their Structure—The Diversity of their Form and Habits—Their Division into Lesser Groups—THE CAT FAMILY—Their Geographical and Chronological Distribution—Their Skeleton—The Peculiarities of their Skull, Teeth, &c. | 1 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| THE CAT FAMILY—THE LION. |
| THE LION—Its Geographical Distribution at the Present Day and in Ancient Times—Its Haunts—Varieties of the Lion—Distinction between the Lion and other Cats—Its Courage, Speed, and Strength—Its Roar—Its Supposed Magnanimity—Its Habits—Man-eating—Occasional resort to Vegetable Diet—Love-making—The Lion-cubs and their Education—Old Age—Breeding in Captivity—Lion Hunting | 14 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| THE CAT FAMILY—THE TIGER AND THE LEOPARD. |
| THE TIGER—Its Colour, Size, &c.—Geographical Distribution—Mention of the Tiger by Ancient Writers—Habits of the Tiger—Its Destructiveness—Native Superstitions—Tiger-hunting—THE LEOPARD—Historical Account—External Characters—Size—Geographical Distribution—Varieties—Habits—Love of Dog-meat—Clay-eating Propensities—Attracted by Small-pox Patients | 30 |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| THE CAT FAMILY—THE JAGUAR—THE SMALLER WILD CATS—THE DOMESTIC CAT. |
| THE JAGUAR—Its Character, Distribution, and Habits—Fondness for Negroes—THE PUMA—Its Character, Geographical Range, and Habits—Mode of Hunting the Puma—THE OUNCE—THE CLOUDED TIGER—The Character of its Fur, &c.—Its Habits—THE OCELOT—THE MARBLED TIGER-CAT—THE VIVERRINE CAT—THE PAMPAS CAT—THE LONG-TAILED TIGER-CAT—THE MARGAY—THE COLOCOLO—THE JAGUARONDI—THE EYRA—THE SERVAL—THE RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT—THE LEOPARD CAT—THE BAY CAT—THE SPOTTED WILD CAT—THE MANUL—THE EGYPTIAN CAT—THE COMMON WILD CAT—THE DOMESTIC CAT—Historical Sketch—Characters of Skin, &c.—Connection between Whiteness and Blindness—Habits—Use of Whiskers—Diet—Poaching Propensities—Fondness for Offspring—For Foster-children—Madness in Cats—Varieties—The Angora Cat, Manx Cat, Persian Cat, and Chinese Cat | 44 |
| CHAPTER V. |
| THE CAT FAMILY—THE HYÆNA FAMILY—THE CRYPTOPROCTA FAMILY—THE AARD-WOLF FAMILY. |
| THE COMMON JUNGLE CAT—THE COMMON LYNX—Historical Sketch—Geographical Distribution—Distinctive Characters—Habits—Uses—THE PARDINE LYNX—THE CANADIAN LYNX—THE RED LYNX—THE CARACAL—THE CHEETAH—Distinctive Characters—Geographical Distribution—Employment in Hunting—THE HYÆNA FAMILY—External Characters—Skull and Teeth—THE SPOTTED HYÆNA—Geographical Distribution—Habits—Laughing Propensities—THE BROWN HYÆNA—THE STRIPED HYÆNA—THE CRYPTOPROCTA FAMILY—Characteristics of the CRYPTOPROCTA—Its Occurrence and Habits—THE AARD-WOLF FAMILY—Characters and Habits of the AARD-WOLF | 70 |
| CHAPTER VI. |
| THE CIVET FAMILY. |
| General Characteristics of the Civet Family—Their Scent, Skull, and Teeth—THE AFRICAN CIVET—Its Characters and Habits—THE ASIATIC CIVET—THE LESSER CIVET—THE GENETTE—THE MUNGOOS, OR ICHNEUMON—Curious Superstition regarding it—THE CRAB MUNGOOS—THE PARADOXURE—THE BINTURONG | 87 |
| CHAPTER VII. |
| THE DOG FAMILY—THE DOMESTIC DOG. |
| Section Cynoidea—Geographical Distribution—Skull of Dog—Teeth—Legs—Walk—Claws—Internal Anatomy—The CÆcum, or “Cul de sac” of the Intestine—Size—THE DOMESTIC DOG—Its Fidelity and Love—Differences between the Domesticated and Natural Species of the Family—Barking a Civilised Habit—Antiquity of the Dog—The Dog among the Hebrews and Egyptians—The Dog in the Bible—“Dog” as a Term of Reproach—Venerated by many Ancient Nations—The Dog among the Greeks and Romans—Pre-historic Dogs—Dogs in the New World—Peruvian Dogs—Superstitions about the Dog—The Dog as an article of Diet—Origin of the Dog—Identity of Structure of Wild and Domestic Dogs—The independent Training of Wild CanidÆ by Savages in many parts of the World—Voice—Results of the whole question as to Origin—Anecdotes about Instinct, Reason, Docility—Muscles of Dog’s Head—Consociation of Dogs—Anecdotes of Sense of Right, Wrong, Duty, Conscience—Sensitiveness, Honesty, Theft, Cunning, Quarrelsomeness, Magnanimity, the reverse, Revenge, Hatred—Conjugal Affection—Devotion to Man—Fickleness—Despair—Rabies and Hydrophobia—Wonderful Variety of Breed | 96 |
| CHAPTER VIII. |
| THE DOG FAMILY—DOGS OF SAVAGES—DOGS OF CIVILISED NATIONS—WILD DOGS. |
| THE HARE INDIAN DOG—Its Characters, Disposition, &c.—THE ESKIMO DOG—The Dependence of the Greenlanders on its Existence—The Probability of its Speedy Extinction—Its Characters and Savage Disposition—Its Uses—DOMESTIC DOGS OF OTHER SAVAGE TRIBES—African Breeds—South American Breeds—THE DALMATIAN DOG—THE GREYHOUND—THE SCOTCH GREYHOUND—THE DEERHOUND—THE TURKISH GREYHOUND—THE GRECIAN GREYHOUND—THE PERSIAN GREYHOUND—THE ITALIAN GREYHOUND—THE COCKER—THE SPRINGER—THE KING CHARLES’S SPANIEL—THE BLENHEIM SPANIEL—THE CHINESE PUG-DOG—THE WATER-SPANIEL—THE POODLE—THE MALTESE DOG—THE LION-DOG—THE TURKISH DOG—THE ST. BERNARD DOG—THE NEWFOUNDLAND DOG—THE SHEEP-DOG—THE POMERANIAN DOG—THE CUR—THE LURCHER—THE BEAGLE—THE HARRIER—THE FOXHOUND—THE STAGHOUND—THE BLOODHOUND—THE SETTER—THE POINTER—THE RETRIEVER—THE OTTER-HOUND—THE TURNSPIT—THE DACHSHOUND—THE BULL-DOG—THE BULL-TERRIER—THE MASTIFF—THE CUBAN MASTIFF—THE TIBET DOG—THE ENGLISH TERRIER—THE SCOTCH TERRIER—PARIAH DOGS—THE INDIAN WILD DOG—THE DINGO | 127 |
| CHAPTER IX. |
| THE DOG FAMILY—WOLVES—JACKALS—FOXES, ETC. |
| THE WOLF—Historical Account—Geographical Distribution—Characteristics—Habits—Destructiveness—Tame Wolves—Varieties of the Wolf—THE PRAIRIE WOLF—THE RED WOLF—THE JACKAL—Its Character—Habits—“Jackal’s Horn”—Occurrence—THE BLACK-BACKED JACKAL—THE SENEGAL JACKAL—THE AGUARA—THE COMMON FOX—Characters distinguishing it from the true Dogs—Its Habits—Cunning—Occurrence—THE ARCTIC FOX—Its supposed Change of Colour according to Season—Its Habits—The Value of its Skin—THE FENNEC—THE LONG-EARED FOX—Why made a Distinct Genus—THE RACOON DOG—THE HYÆNA DOG—Its Character and Habits | 149 |
| CHAPTER X. |
| THE BEAR FAMILY—THE BEARS. |
| Characters of the URSIDÆ—Their Mode of Progression—Teeth—Skull—Geographical Distribution—THE BROWN BEAR—Its Occurrence—Character—Habit of Hibernating—Diet—Moral Characteristics—Bear-baiting—Varieties—THE AMERICAN BLACK BEAR—Its Habits—Superstitions of the Indians regarding it—THE GRIZZLY BEAR—THE SYRIAN BEAR—THE HIMALAYAN BEAR—THE SUN BEAR—THE SLOTH BEAR—Its Ant- and Bee-eating Propensities—THE SPECTACLED BEAR—THE POLAR BEAR—Its Size—Characteristics—Habits—Method of Hunting—The supposed Poisonous Properties of its Liver | 163 |
| CHAPTER XI. |
| THE RACOON FAMILY—THE PANDA FAMILY—THE WEASEL FAMILY—FOSSIL CARNIVORA. |
| THE RACOON FAMILY—Characters of their Skull, Teeth, &c.—Geographical Distribution—THE RACOON—Its Habit of Washing its Food—Its External Characters and Habits—Racoon Hunting—The Crab-eating Racoon—THE COATI—THE KINKAJOU—Its Lemur-like Appearance, Prehensile Tail, &c.—THE CACOMIXLE—THE PANDA FAMILY—THE PANDA—Its Character and Habits—The Ailuropus—THE WEASEL FAMILY—Anatomical Characters—Tail-glands—Division of the Family into Three Sub-families—Importance of the MustelidÆ as Fur-producing Animals—THE GLUTTON—Its Characters—Superstitions Regarding it—Its Cunning—THE MARTEN—THE PEKAN—THE SABLE—THE WEASEL—THE STOAT, OR ERMINE—The Difference between its Winter and Summer Dress, and the manner in which the Change takes place—THE POLECAT—THE FERRET—THE MINK—THE GRISON—THE TAYRA—THE RATEL—THE COMMON BADGER—Its Habits—Burrowing—THE AMERICAN BADGER—THE TELEDU—THE CAPE ZORILLA—THE COMMON SKUNK—Its Noxious Secretion—Hydrophobia produced by Skunk Bite—The Little Striped Skunk—The White-backed Skunk—THE COMMON OTTER—The Adaptation of its Structure to Aquatic Life—Use of Tame Otters for Fishing—The Canadian Otter—The Margined-tailed Otter—THE SEA OTTER—Its Affinities with the Seals—How it is Hunted—GENERAL RELATIONS OF THE LAND CARNIVORA—FOSSIL CARNIVORA—The Tendency of these to bridge over Existing Groups—Appendix to Chapter VI. (Civet Family)—THE CYNOGALE—THE CYNICTIS—THE MANGUE—THE SURICATE | 177 |
| THE AQUATIC OR MARINE CARNIVORA. |
| CHAPTER I. |
| INTRODUCTION—THE WALRUS, OR MORSE. |
| Pinnipedia distinctly Aquatic—The Three Families—Their Common Characteristics—Skeleton—Mobility of Figure—Feet—Dentition—Skull—Tongue—Stomach—Intestine—Peculiar Disposition of Blood-vessels of Liver—Lungs—Sense of Smell—Larynx—Brain—Sense of Hearing—The Walrus Family—Characteristics—THE WALRUS, OR MORSE—Geographical Distribution—Fossil Forms—Weight—Size—Appearance in Old Age—Mode of Walk—Habits—On Guard—In the Water—Attacked—Tusks—Dentition of the Young—Uses of the Tusks—Food—Long Fasts—Story of “Jamie,” a Tame Walrus—The Young—Maternal Affection—Massacre—Walrus as an Article of Diet | 209 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| II.—THE SEA LION FAMILY (OTARIIDÆ). |
| Various Names—Peculiarities of Distribution—Characteristics of the Family—Dentition—Skull—Fossil Remains—Distinction between Fur and Hair Seals—Preparation of the Seal-skin—THE NORTHERN FUR SEAL—History—The Pribyloff Islands—Male, Female, Young—“Hauling-grounds”—Wintering—Males at the Islands in Spring—Desperate Battles for Seaward Positions—Approach of the Females—Struggles for Wives—The Young—Abstinence from Food, Water, and Sleep for more than Two Months—Neutral Ground in the “Rookeries”—Habits of the Young—Food—Annual Slaughter—Estimated Numbers—Mode of Killing—STELLER’S SEA LION—GILLIESPIE’S HAIR SEAL—HOOKER’S SEA BEAR—The Wreck of the Grafton—Musgrave’s Narrative—Sufferings of the Castaways—Their Experiences among the Sea Bears—THE WHITE-NECKED OTARY—Distribution—Description—“Counsellor Seal”—THE PATAGONIAN SEA LION—Historical Associations—Impetus to the Study of the Family—FranÇois Lecomte—Its Docility and Intelligence—Its various Performances—Voracity—Lecomte’s Observations—Habits—THE FALKLAND ISLAND FUR SEAL—Habitat—The Hunter’s Boats—Driven from their Haunts—Captain Weddell’s Observations—Great Wariness and Speed—Size—Habits—THE SOUTH AFRICAN, OR CAPE FUR SEAL—THE NEW ZEALAND FUR SEAL—THE ASH-COLOURED OTARY—Peron’s Services to Science | 216 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| III.—THE EARLESS SEAL FAMILY (PHOCIDÆ). |
| General Characteristics—Peculiar Formation of the Hind Legs—Dentition—Swimming—THE COMMON SEAL—Range—Fight between a Seal and Salmon—Colour—Appearance—Annual Catch—Use of Skins in Greenland—Habits—THE RINGED SEAL—Appearance—Various Names—Odour—Flesh—Skin Clothes—Haunts—Modes of Capture—Range—THE GREENLAND, OR SADDLEBACK SEAL—Habits—Appearance—Names—Range—Migrations—“Seals’ Weddings”—Five Stages of Colour—Females—Weight—Seal Fisheries—Hunting—Implements of Slaughter—Various Operations—The Sealers—Oil, Skins, &c.—THE BEARDED SEAL—THE GREY SEAL—THE MONK SEAL—THE CRESTED OR BLADDER-NOSE SEAL—Range—Size—Ferocity—Character of the so-called Crest—Dentition—Colour—THE ELEPHANT SEAL—Peculiar Range—Proboscis—Scammon’s Account—Habits—Hunting—Hardships of the Hunters—Recreations of the Men—Blubber, Oil, and Skins—ROSS’S LARGE-EYED SEAL—THE SEA LEOPARD—WEDDELL’S SEAL—THE CRAB-EATING SEAL—Concluding Remarks—The Slaughter of Seals—Remedies | 231 |
| ORDER CETACEA.—WHALES. |
| Whales—Vulgar Notions—Characteristics External and Internal—Larynx—Tail—Skeleton—Classification—THE TOOTHED WHALES—ZEUGLODONS—SQUALODONS—PHOCODONS—RIVER DOLPHINS—SUSU, OR GANGETIC DOLPHIN—Description—Habits—Teeth—INIA—PONTOPORIA—ZIPHIOID WHALES—CUVIER’S WHALE—VAN BENEDEN’S WHALE—SOWERBY’S WHALE—NEW ZEALAND BERARDIUS—BOTTLEHEAD, OR COMMON BEAKED WHALE—SPERM WHALES, OR CACHALOTS—SPERM WHALE—Description—Range—Fishery—Incidents of the Chase—Habits—Harpooned—Treatment of the Carcass—SHORT-HEADED WHALE, OR SNUB-NOSED CACHALOT—DOLPHINS—CAAING, OR PILOT WHALE—RISSO’S GRAMPUS—COMMON PORPOISE—KILLER WHALE, OR ORCA—Ferocity—TRUE DOLPHINS—COMMON DOLPHIN—BOTTLE-NOSE DOLPHIN—WHITE WHALE—NARWHAL—THE WHALEBONE WHALES—Whalebone—GREENLAND, OR RIGHT WHALE—BISCAY WHALE—JAPAN WHALE—CAPE WHALE—SOUTH PACIFIC WHALE—Description of the Greenland Whale—Their Food and Mode of Feeding—Habits—Hunting—Treatment of Carcass—HUMP-BACKED WHALES—FIN WHALES, OR RORQUALS—SIBBALD’S RORQUAL—SULPHUR-BOTTOM WHALE—COMMON RORQUAL, OR RAZOR-BACK—LESSER RORQUAL—Concluding Remarks | 245 |
| ORDER SIRENIA (THE MANATEES). |
| Introductory Remarks—Mermaids—Position—General Characteristics of the Order—STELLER’S RHYTINA—Habits—Extinct—DUGONG—Range—Habits—Uses—Teeth—MANATEE—Distribution—Peculiar Mouth—Mode of Feeding—Story of “Patcheley,” a Tame Manatee—Halitherium and other Fossil Forms | 268 |
| ORDER PROBOSCIDEA (ELEPHANTS). |
| Order Proboscidea—Antiquity of the Elephant—Referred to in the Bible—Mentioned in the Apocrypha—War Elephants—Their Accoutrements—Hannibal’s Elephants—Elephants amongst the Romans—Skull—Dentition—VertebrÆ—Odd Delusion about its Legs—Proboscis—Species—THE INDIAN ELEPHANT—Size—Range—Habits—Various Modes of Capture—Keddah—Used as a Labourer or Nurse—Sagacity—White Elephants—THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT—Characteristics—Range—Habits and Haunts—Hunting—Pitfalls—Aggageers Chasing—Elephant-Shooting—How the Natives Cut it up—FOSSIL ELEPHANTS AND THEIR ALLIES—Absurd Stories—MAMMOTH—How it was first Found—Story of the Fourth or Benkendorf’s Discovery—Range—MASTODON—DINOTHERIUM | 273 |
| ORDER HYRACOIDEA (CONIES). |
| What is the Coney?—Mention in the Bible—General Appearance—Real Place—Range—Varieties—Coney of the Bible—Cape Coney—Ashkoko of Abyssinia—Mr. Winwood Reade’s Account of the Habits of the Cape Coney—Skull, Dentition, Ribs, &c. | 292 |
| ORDER UNGULATA (HOOFED QUADRUPEDS). |
| CHAPTER I. |
| PERISSODACTYLA—THE EQUIDÆ, OR HORSE FAMILY. |
| Order UNGULATA—Divisions—PERISSODACTYLA—Characteristics—EQUIDÆ—Species—Descent—First Domestic Horses in Europe—Used for Food—Mention of the Horse in the Bible—War-Chariots—The Horse among the Greeks and Romans—In Britain—Attempts to Improve the Breed—Colour—Teeth—“The Mark”—The Foot—Skull—Disease from the Gad-fly—RACE-HORSE—TROTTING HORSE OF AMERICA—DRAY HORSE—SHETLAND PONY—ARAB AND BARB—PERSIAN HORSE—WILD HORSES IN AMERICA—Habits—Byron’s “Mazeppa”—Capture and Breaking in—WILD HORSES IN AUSTRALIA—THE ASS—Species—Stripes—Characteristics—MULE AND HINNY—WILD ASS OF TIBET—ONAGER—WILD ASS OF ABYSSINIA—ZEBRAS—BURCHELL’S ZEBRA—QUAGGA—FOSSIL EQUIDÆ—Distribution—HIPPARION | 295 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| PERISSODACTYLA—THE TAPIR AND RHINOCEROS FAMILIES. |
| Introductory Remarks on the Tapirs—Foot—Anatomical Features—Skull—Compared with that of Hog—Skull of Asiatic Tapir—Proboscis—Dentition—Species of Tapir—THE AMERICAN TAPIR—Habits—Colour—Modes of Hunting—Docility—THE HAIRY TAPIR—THE MALAYAN TAPIR—FOSSIL TAPIRS—THE RHINOCEROSES—General Characteristics—Is it the ReÈm of the Bible?—Ludicrous Ideas respecting it—At Rome—First Rhinoceroses in Europe—Skeleton—Skull—Horns—Curious Dental Law—Fore and Hind Limbs—Dentition—AFRICAN RHINOCEROSES—“WHITE” RHINOCEROS—OSWELL’S RHINOCEROS—BLACK RHINOCEROS—KEITLOA—RHINOCEROS BICORNIS MINOR—Hunting—Sir Samuel Baker’s Extraordinary Chase—Gordon Cumming’s Account of the Characteristics and Habits of the Black and White South African Rhinoceroses—Rhinoceros Birds—THE ASIATIC RHINOCEROSES—Connection between Dentition and Horns—THE INDIAN RHINOCEROS—An Inveterate Enemy of the Elephant—THE JAVAN RHINOCEROS—THE SUMATRAN RHINOCEROS—THE HAIRY-EARED RHINOCEROS—How a Specimen, “Begum,” was Captured—THE FOSSIL RHINOCEROSES—The Extinct Families PalÆotheridÆ and MacraucheniadÆ | 317 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| ARTIODACTYLA—THE PIG OR HOG FAMILY. |
| Introductory Remarks on the Artiodactyla—Character of their Feet—The Wanting Digit—Comparison of the Bones of the Fore Feet of Representative Animals—Other Characters in the Artiodactyla—Classification—SUIDÆ, OR HOG FAMILY—Groups of the Family—Snout—Sense of Smell—Libels—Mention in the Bible—Among the Jews—Range—Teeth—THE WILD BOAR—General Features—Habits—Historical Mention—THE INDIAN HOG—Habits—A Wild Boar Hunt—A Noble Foe—THE DOMESTIC HOG—The “Irish Greyhound Pig”—Effects of Domestication—THE SOLID-HOOFED BREED OF PIGS—Description of the Bones of Foot—MASKED PIG—BUSH HOG—BABIRUSA—THE WART HOGS—ÆLIAN’S WART HOG—THE ETHIOPIAN WART HOG—PECCARIES—Habits—Dentition—Feet—Species—THE FOSSIL HOGS | 335 |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| ARTIODACTYLA—THE HIPPOPOTAMUS FAMILY. |
| Present Representatives—Two Species—THE COMMON RIVER HORSE—General Appearance—Characteristics: Skin, Head, Nostrils, Eyes, Ears, Legs, Tail, Mouth, Tusks, Dentition, Skeleton, Stomach—Habits—Food—Under Water—Behemoth of the Bible—Used in the Roman Sports—As described by the Ancient Naturalists—As portrayed by the Ancient Artists—The First Hippopotamus in England—Subsequent Inmates of the Zoological Gardens—Herds of Hippopotami—Harpoon for Hunting—Sir Samuel Baker’s Accounts of Hippopotamus Hunts—Various Methods of Capture—Occasional Fits of Blind Fury—A Night Attack upon a Diahbeeah—Uses of the Hippopotamus—THE LIBERIAN HIPPOPOTAMUS—Fossil Forms—THE ANOPLOTHERES | 348 |
